Tax Help ‘en Español’

IRS Tax Tip 2012-12, January 18, 2012

Tax information can be tough to understand in any language, but it can be even more difficult if it is not in your first language. The IRS offers a wide range of free and easy-to-use products and services for Spanish-speaking taxpayers. Here are 10 ways you can get help from the IRS if you need assistance with your federal taxes in Spanish:

Get answers 24 hours a day seven days a weekwww.irs.gov/espanol has a wealth of information accessible all day, every day for individuals and businesses. You will find links to tax-related information, disaster relief, identity theft and warnings about common tax scams that victimize taxpayers. You can also check the status of your tax refund through the online tool ¿Dónde está mi reembolso? and even find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable tax credit for many people who earned less than $49,078, using the Asistente EITC on our secure website.

Find out all about Free File Let Free File do the hard work for you with brand-name tax software or online fillable forms. It's exclusively at www.irs.gov. Everyone can find an option to prepare their tax return and e-file it for free. If you made $57,000 or less, you qualify to use free tax software that is offered through a private-public partnership with manufacturers. Visit www.irs.gov/freefile and select En Español to review your options.

Find out about e-file IRS e-file: It’s safe. It’s easy. It’s time. Last year, 78 percent of taxpayers - 112 million people - used IRS e-file. In 2012, many tax preparers will be required to use e-file and will explain your filing options to you. IRS e-file has processed more than 1 billion returns safely and securely. If you owe taxes, you have payment options to file immediately and pay by the tax deadline. Best of all, combine e-file with direct deposit and IRS could issue your refund in as few as 10 days. For more information visit www.irs.gov/espanol and select Opciones Electrónicas to review your options.

Get up-to-date at the Multimedia Center Watch YouTube Video tax tips and listen to podcasts on various IRS topics in Spanish and English by entering the keywords “Centro Multimediático” into the search box of the irs.gov website.

TeleTax is a toll-free, automated telephone service. TeleTax provides helpful pre-recorded tax topic messages and refund information. You can find a list more than 125 TeleTax topics, available in Spanish and English, in the instructions for Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. TeleTax can also help if at least four weeks have passed since you filed your return and you want to check on the status of your federal refund. Having a copy of your return handy will help you respond to the automated system prompts. TeleTax is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-829-4477.

Get tax forms and publications You can view and download several tax forms and publications in Spanish directly from www.irs.gov/espanol at any hour of the day or night.

Visit the IRS Spanish Newsroom Find the agency’s most recent announcements, tips and information on recently implemented tax law that could affect you. Avoid missing any benefits and keep up to date by typing the keywords “Noticias en Espanol” into the search box of the irs.gov website.

Multilingual Assistance at IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers Multilingual services are offered to taxpayers in more than 150 languages, including Spanish, through bilingual employees or an Over-the-Phone Interpreter. TAC locations, hours and services are available at www.irs.gov/individuals by clicking on the link for Contact My Local Office in the left tool bar section.

Toll-Free Telephone Assistance is available from Spanish-speaking IRS representatives by calling the IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040 and then pressing the number 8.

Stay connected to all the newest information and tax tips in Spanish by following us on Twitter @IRSenEspanol.